Machine for making wax matches.



I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I l No. 658,764.- Patented Oct. 2, I900.

J. vC. DONNELLY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WAX MATCHES.

(Application. filgd Juno 9, 1893.)

(No Model.) 4 Shoets$heet I m: nonms PETERS co. PHOTOLITHD" wnswmc-To, n. c.

Patented Oct. 2, I900 J. C. DONNELLY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WAX MATCHES.

(Application filed Jun 9, 1893.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(,No Model.)

man. 0. c;v

THE :mwus wzrzas co. Pnoro umou WASHIN Patented Oct; 2, I900.

J. C. DONNELLY. MACHINE FOR MAKING WAX MATCHES.

(Application filed June 9, 1893.

(N0 Model.)

THE nonms PETERS co. mom'uruojwasumamu, a. c.

no. 658,764. atented Dot. 2, 1900.

.1. c. DO'NNELLY.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WAX MATCHES.

{Application filed Juno 9, 1893.)

4' Sheets8heet 4.

(No Model.)

Inventor.

Witnesses.

Axto rney.

UNITED STATES.

-' PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH C. DONNELLY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WAX MATCHES.

srncmzca'non forming part of Letters Patent No. 658.764. dated October 2, 1900.

Application filed June 9, 1893. serial No. 477,076. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH C. DONNELLY, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, and in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Wax Matches, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a view of my machine in side elevation, lever K and its hanger being omitted for clearness; Fig. 2, a plan view of a portion of the carrier with the means for actuating it and separating the bars of its sections, the guiding-Way for the carrier being partially removed; Fig. 3, aview of asection on line was of Fig. 2 with the taper holding and guiding rolls removed; Fig. 4, a view of a transverse section on line y y of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a view of a section online a z of Fig.

3; Fig. 6, a detail view showing in side elevation the cam and switch devices forcausing the moving taper-feeding clamps to remain closed during their upward movement and to open and remain open as they descend; I and Fig. 7, a detail view of the feed-clamp,-

partly in elevation and partly in vertical section. ratchet and pawl devices and their supporting and operating parts. Fig. 9 is a detail in elevation of one of the ratchet-wheels and its pawl.

The object of my invention has been to provide an improved machine for making wax matches; and to this end my invention consists in the machine and the parts thereof constructed, arranged, and combined as here-.

inafter specified.

Ithas been my special purpose in devising the present machine to provide entirely automatic means for making matches from wax taper supplied continuously from the roll or coil, such taper being out into suit-able chine, such frame being of any desired con Fig. 8 is a detail in perspective of the formed in one piece therewith are the two opposite and similar continuous guides B B, each having the lower straight horizontal part, the curved portions connected with the ends of such straight part, and an upper portion, preferably, but not necessarily,straight, connecting the upper ends of the curved end portions. In the inner opposing sidesof these two guides are the continuous grooves or ways I) b, which correspond with each other in form and direction. Their curved portions are, as shown, made Wider than the lower straight parts, for a purpose to be explained. Guided in these ways b b are the opposite sides of an endless. carrier made up of a series of sections hinged together, so that they can as the carrier is moved along pass'around through the curves in the ways I) b, as indicated in the drawings. This carrier, which is for the purpose of receiving and holding the bu t t-ends of the match-blanks while the head ends are being treated,has each of its sections formed of two parallel rods 0 O near its opposite sides, upon which are strung a series of clamping-barsO 0', made movable .to and from each other on the rods and hav- -I do not limit myself to such construction,

but can 'have more or less of the bars and mount them inovably on therods in any other desired way without departure from my invention. The rods 0 C at one end of the respective carrier-section have the shoulders c. of, which engaging the outer side of the end bar limit the movement of the series of bars in that-direction. The ends of the rods beyond such shoulders are pivotally-connected with the adjoining ends of the rods of the next carrier-section, preferably, though not necessarily, in the manner shown in the drawings.

For this purpose the ends of the rods beyond shoulders o c are provided with holes and inserted between ears 0 c on' heads 0 c on the adjoining rods, and pins 0 c are passed through said ears and the rod-holes.

To force the bars of each section along the respective supporting-rods toward the shoul- While I have shown ten ders c c and hold said bars pressed against each other with a yielding pressure, I provide each rod with a spring 0 which being between the head 0 and the nearest or end bar of the series presses at one end against the head and at the other upon the outer side of the bar. The sides of the bars which oppose each other are provided with a series of corresponding half-round grooves c c at right angles to the lengths of the bars, so as to be upright as the respective carrier-section moves along or is in the horizontal part of the guideways I) b. The size of these grooves is such that two of them will together make an opening slightly smaller in diameter than the taper to be used in making the matches, so that as a piece of taper is inserted between two of the bars 0 O in line with the corresponding grooves therein and the bars are brought together, as by the action of the springs 0 0 described above, such piece will be inclosed, clamped, and held in the grooves. The upper and lower ends of such grooves are enlarged or made flaring, as shown, for a purpose to be described, the half-round fiare of each groove end being preferably in the shape of a portion ofthe surface of a cone.

Each bar has the opposite sides of each of its ends beveled off, so as to form the opposite inclines c 0 having V-shaped spaces between the ends of adjoining bars, while on its under side as the respective carrier-section is traveling along the lower horizontal part of ways I) I; each bar has near each of its ends a downwardly-project-ing tooth c In each of the carrier-sections that bar 0 which comes against the shoulders c c on rods C O has, in addition to the teeth 0 c two other teeth 0 c situated on lugs or projections extending out from the bar near its opposite ends, so as to bring said other'te'eth in line with each other below the space between the two adjoining carrier-sections, which is made equal to the width of one of the bars.

For moving the endless carrier around through the ways 1) b with astep-by-step motion, so as to move the bars 0 O successively into position with the series of grooves 0 0 over a given line, Iprovide the shaft D, journaled in suitable hearings on the frame or on, arms dependent from the guides B B, with the two pinions D D,meshing with the series. This shaftis;

of teeth on the section-bars. also provided with two suitably-disposed ratchet-wheels D D which are actuated by pawl mechanism to impart the requisite movements to the shaft, as will be hereinafter described.

Journaled upon suitable bearings on the:

two uprights E E of the frame, which are below the path of the carrier-sections, along the horizontal lower portions of the guides B B suitable connections from any suitable motor or source of power.

An upright plate G, parallel to the bars 0 O of the endless carrier, is at its sides guided in vertical guid'eways e e on the inner sides of the uprights E E, so as to be movable to and from the carrier in a direction at right angles to the travel of the same. In one vertical face of this plate there are upright half round grooves g g, corresponding in number and relative position with the grooves c a in the carrierbars. For a pur pose to be explained hereinafter while the lower portions of these plate-grooves are made of the same size as those in the bars the upper portions are made larger, so as to just accommodate a half-segment of the taper to be used. A transverse slot g through the plate at the point where the differentsized portions of the grooves meet extends across the series of grooves and stops just short of the plate sides. A second plate G, parallel to the other, is connected therewith by pins g g on such other plate engaging holes 9 g in plate G. This second plate G is provided with grooves g, exactly like those in the other, with their lower portions made smaller than the upper ones, so that when the two plates are pressed together a taper placed between them in line with corresponding opposing grooves therein will be clamped and held by the lower parts of the grooves and simply inclosed and guided without being clamped by the upper groove parts. Upon the outer side of plate G are the two ears g g, to which is pivotally attached, by means of pin g''', the upper end of connecting-rod G the lower end of which is sleeved on the crank F on the shaft F. With this construction and the plates G and G connected together, as shown and described, by the pins on the former engaging the holes in the latter plate as the shaft F is revolved to cause the crank to actuate the connecting-rod the two plates will be reciprocated up and down toward and from the under side of the endless carrier. The position of the guide for plateG is such that as the carrier comes to a rest after each step-by-step movement there will be a series of grooves in the section bars directly over and in line with the grooves in the plates G G, as indicated in thedrawings. (See Figsland 3.) Forholding the plate G close against the other as it moves upward and then moving it away therefrom as it moves downward and holding it so removed throughout the downward travel I provide said plate on its opposite edges with the guide-rollers g g, situated at ornear the top and bottom of the plate, respectively. Upon the inner sides of the uprights E E are the grooves e 6 in position to be engaged by said rollers. Of these grooves the former is a straight vertical one parallel to groove or way 6, which guides plate G, and near enough thereto to cause the plate G to be held close against the other plate as the rollers g g ride up grooves e. 6 during the raising of both plates by theconnecting-rod G The grooves 6 of which there are two on each upright E, have their upper and lower ends running into groove 6, while their main portions between such ends are substantially parallel with such groot e,

Near the upper end of each groove e which ismade inclined toward groove 6, there is a spring-actuated switch e which is pressed by its spring 6 to cause it to stand normally in an inclined position across the groove e, so as to guide a roller 9 which may have traveled aboveit and be descending, over into the groove 6 in the manner indicated in Fig. 6. As a roller g nears the upper end of its travel up groove e it engages the switch and swings it over out of its way, so that it forms a continuation of the outer guidingwall of such groove and keeps pressed toward plate G to continue the taper-clamping action of the two plates during their continued upward movement. As the roller passes off of the upper end of the switch, so that the latter is swung over across groove 6' by its spring, the side wall of the latter is engaged by the roller, so that the plates G G are still held forced together until the downward movement of such plates begins, when the rollers onopposite sides of plate G en- 7 gage the respective switches and arecammed thereby over into the grooves e e to cause unclamping of the tapers by the plate-grooves. Attached to the uprights E E, below and in line with plate G, is the stationary bar H, having grooves h h in line with and of the same size as the lower portions of those in said. plate. A similarly-grooved movable clamping-bar H is guided in its movements to and from bar H by pins h h on the uprights passing through holes h h in the bar, near its opposite ends, while springs h 71, on such pins, confined by nuts h h, press the bar over toward bar H to cause any tapers passed up through the bar-grooves to be clamped and held in the latter.

To move bar H against thestress of springs h h so as to cause the tapers to be unclamped, I provide the opposite ends of said bar with the rollers k 72, and place upon shaft H journaled in suitable bearings on uprights E E, the two cam-wheels h h, each having a de-' pressed portion to allow the bar to remain pressed against bar H during the downward travel of the clamping-plates G G away from the endless carrier and the raised part h to engage the respective roller k and force it over to move and hold the bar H away from bar H while the clamping-plates are moving up again toward the carrier. Q

Upon the outer ends of shaft H which is to be driven from shaft F by a belt H running over suitable pulleysH? H on the re spective shafts, as shown, or by other con-' nections, as desired, are fixed the cran k-disks h h, carrying the wrist-pins if 119, each engaging a longitudinal slot is in one of the le-;

vers KK, pivoted upon arms is Zr, attached to the guide-frames B B. The wrist-pins, being similarly situated upon the crank-disks, will actuate the two levers in the same direction and at the same time. Lever K is at its farther end provided with the pawl which has its upper end adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel D on'shaft D, hereinbefore described, and turn such wheel and shaft forward as the pawl-carrying end of the lever descends. A spring 10 holds the pawl to its work, while a stop-arm k on the lever limits the pawls motion under stress of the spring. The other lever K has its outer end connected by link 70 with the swinging arm k pivoted on shaft D, close to ratchet-wheel D with its one tooth. Pivoted to the outer end of this arm is the pawl k held pressed against the periphery of said ratchet-wheel by spring 70 and having its outer endadapted to engage the one tooth on such wheel when it is brought around into its reach by rotation of the shaft D, so as to turn both wheel and shaft forward a distance dependent upon the travel of the pawl. Lever K is pivoted so that its pawl can move ratchetwheel D one tooth or far enough to make the endless carrier travel through the space occupied by one of its clamping-bars C, while lever K is so pivoted that pawl 10 has three times the travel of pawl 70 so that when it engages the tooth on ratchet-wheel D it will turn the latter and the shaft to move the carrier through a space equal to the Width of three of its bars. The single tooth on this ratchet-wheel is so situated that it comes around within the reach of pawl it each time that the last bar of a carrier-section is brought by the motion of the latter to place its waxtaper-receivinggrooves c c in line with those on the reciprocating clamping-plate G. As the pawl 10 is actuated by its moving lever, it will then, by turning the ratchet-wheel and shaft D three times as far as the pawl It? turns the latter for each movement of its actuatinglever, move the endless carrier along through the space of three bars, as is necessary to carry the space between two carrier-sections timed with reference to the described means for actuating the clamping plates G G and the clamping-bar-H that the pawls are caused to move the respective ratchet-wheels in the manner described after clamping-plates G G have traveled downward so as to approach the lower limit of their travel and during a short portion of their upward movement.

The rolls L L of taper, of which there is y one for each one of the series of clampinggrooves, are placed upon a shaft L, which is supported in open bearings L and is provided with a brake-pulley L ,over which passes the friction brake-strap L with a weight; L attached to one end to regulate the amount of friction resisting the turning of the shaft. The rollers can, if desired, be connected with the shaft frictionally, so as to be capable of rotating thereon under stress of an extra pull on the tapers, or they could be simply journaled on a stationary spindle and be each provided with a friction brakepulley and weighted brake strap, like such features just described as used with the rotary shaft. From the rolls the lines of tapers M M are led around the grooved guide-wheels L journaled on spindle L and thence up into and through the respective clampinggrooves in the bars H and H. From there they run up into the corresponding grooves in the plates G G. In line with the slot g,when the clamp ing-plates are at the uppermost limit of their travel toward the endless carrier, is the horizontal knife-blade N, which at its opposite ends is guided in the horizontal guideways 'n n in arms on the uprights E E, so as to be movable into and from said slot when the latter is brought up opposite it by the movement of the clamping-plates. The cutting edge,

which is carried by the inward movement of the cutter across the series of grooves in the plates G G, so as to cut through all the tapers held by the latter, is preferably made inclined a little to a line at right angles to the cutters movement, so as to secure aueasy drawing out. From the outer ends of the cutter arms n n extend outward through slots in the supporting-frame. They are provided with openings in line with the travel of the cutter-engaging pins 07. WP, on which are springs R3713, which engaging the cutter-arms force the same, and consequently the cutter, norm ally away from the path of the clampingplates G G. On the rear or back of the cutter are journaled antifriction-rollers 11 01 which are in the paths of the single teeth or lugs n similarly situated on the two disks n n, fixed on the shaft of, driven from shaft 11 by belt-and-pulley connection, as shown. The shaft n is so timed that these lugs engage the respective rollers '21 n on the cutter and force the latter over to make it out quickly just as the crank F on the shaft F comes to and is passing its upper dead-center. Having been thus moved and released by the lugs, the cutter is quickly retracted by its springs 11 11 For forcing the spring-pressed bars 0 O of a carrier-section apart to allow the upper ends of the tapers held and moved upward by the clamping-plates G G to be inserted easily between them in position to be clamped in the corresponding and opposite bar-grooves when the bars are brought together again I provide on opposite sides of the carrier the reciprocating wedge-blocks O 0, supported in guides o 0 on the frame and having their inner wedgeshaped ends adapted to be forced into the V- shaped spaces between the outer ends of adjoining bars C 0, made broad enough to slightly separate the bars, as shown in Fig. 2. Each of these wedge-blocks has a retractingspring 0 to draw it back from its bar-separating position and an antifriction-roller o in position to be engaged and forced inward toward the carrier bya cam 0 on a rotary disk 0 There is one of these cam-disks for each wedge-block fixed on a shaft 0 journaled in a bearing on the frame and having attached to it a pulley 0 driven by a belt 0 from a band-wheel 0 on shaft H The hereinbefore described pinions for moving the endless carrier by meshing with the teeth on the bars of the carrier-sections are situated to the rear of the point where the wedge-blocks operate upon the bars, a dis tance greater than the length of one of the carrier-sections, so that the pinions cannot engage the teeth on the bars of a section which is passing and being operated upon by the wedge-blocks, but will mesh with those on the next section to the rear of that one. To the rear of such pinions and above the endless carrier is a transverse bar P, vertically reciprocating in guides P P, engaging its ends. On its under side such bar is provided with a series of pins 1) 1), corresponding in number and relative situation with and adapted to enter the taper-clamping holes made up of the corresponding opposing grooves in the abutting faces of adjoining carrier-section bars 0 O. The situation of this bar P over the horizontal or straight traveling part of the carrier is such that each time that the carrier comes to a rest after being moved a step in the manner and by the means hereinbefore described the division-line between the bars 0 O, and consequently a row of taper-holding openings, will be directly below the pins 19 19, so that as the bar Pdescends the latter will enter such openings and push out therefrom the ends of the pieces of taper held therein.

For actuating the bar to cause it to descend each time that the carrier comes to a rest I use the shaft P journaled in hearings on the portions B B of the frame of the machine and having the cranks p 1), connected by links 19 p with the top of the bar. Such shaft can be driven by a belt P passing over pulleys P and P on the shafts n and P respectively.

Underneath the carrier in position to receive the matches discharged therefrom by the pins 19 p is the inclined guide or chute P to guide the matches to any desired receptacle.

Upon a suitable standard R just forward of the clamps G and G is the trough or receptacle R, holding the igniting composition to form the heads of the matches and provided with the rollers R R to carry the composition from the body in the receptacle up into the path of the lower ends of the matchblanks or short pieceyof taper which have been cut off from the rolls and are carried onward by the clamping-bars of the moving carrier. The shaft E on which these rollers are fixed, is revolved by a belt R running over a pulley R thereon, and one, R

fixed on the shaft H One or more rotary stirrers R for stirring up the contents of the trough or receptacle can be driven also from shaft H by suitable belt-and-pulley connections. i

The operation of my'machine, which may be quite fully understood from the foregoing description and drawings, is briefly iLS'ZfOl. low: With the lines of taper fed from the spools up through the grooves of the clampingbars H H and -clamping-plates G G so'as to project above the tops of the latter and said plates raised to insert such ends of the tapers between two of the carrier-section bars 0 O, which are held apart by the wedge blocks provided for that purpose, the clampingplates G G are held together to grasp the tapers in the lower narrower portions of their grooves g g, and the clampingbar H is held away from bar H by the cams engaging the rollers on the ends of the former bar. The cams which have forced and are holding the wedge-blocks in between the ends of bars 0 C then pass olf of the rollers on the wedgeblocks, and the retracting-springs quickly retract the latter to disengage them from the bars. By the action of the springs c c on rods 0 C the separated bars 0 O are quickly brought together to, clamp the ends of the tapers between them. In the meantime the cutter is forced in through the slot in plate G, so as to cut through the tapers just above the points where they are clamped in the smaller portions of grooves g g in plates G G. As the motion of the machine continues the clampingplates begin to descend and the clamping-bar H is released by the cams,which have been holding it away from bar H, so that it is forced quickly by springs h h inward toward the latter bar to clamp the tapers in the bar-grooves. The part of the descent of the plates G G causesthe guide-rollers on the latterplate to ride out over the switches toward and into grooves 6 e so that such plate is moved away from plate G to unclamp the tapers between them. As the tops of these clamping-plates come below the ends of the cut-off pieces of taper forming match-blanks, which are now held by their upper ends in the grooves of two abutting carrier-section bars 0 O, the pawl-actuating levers are, through their pin-and-slot connections with the disks or wheels on shaft H moved in a direction to cause their respective ratchet-wheels on the carrier-driving pinionshaft to turn forward. It the single tooth on the ratchet-wheel D is not within the reach of its engaging pawl W, the latter merely moves without performing any work,while the other pawl moves its ratchet-wheel one tooth, or j ust devices.

far enough to carry a carrier-section bar 0 past the line of upward movementof the tapers by the described feeding-clamp and bring the grooved upright face on the rear side of such bar into position, so that its said grooveswill be in line with the tapers to be inserted in them. When the last bar of a section has been reached and a series of match blanks have been inserted in the grooves in the forward face of it and the rear .face of the abutting bar, the. single tooth on the ratchet-wheel D is by the rotation of the shaft I) necessary to move the carrier to bring the division-lines between the bars of a section successively over the taper-feeding clamps brought into reach of the pawl 10 which, because of the extra motion of its act- !uating-lever, then turns the wheel D and consequently the shaft D, far enough to carry the opening between the section just operated upon and the adjoining one past the taper feeding and inserting devices, and bring the groove (2, such plate clamps the tapers again in its grooves and those of plate G, and both plates move upward again. In the meantime the bar H is by the cam devices provided therefor moved away from bar H, so as to leave the tapers free to be drawn upward by clam ping-plates G G. The wedge-blocks being again driven inward by their actuating cams separate the new pair of bars 0 C, so that the ends of the tapers projecting above the clamping-plates G G are inserted between them in line with their grooves c c. The

operation just above described is then repeated, the result being that as the carriersections are moved along theyhave their rows of taper-receiving openings successively filled with match-blanks, which they carry on ,over the composition-applying device, which puts on their lower ends the desired heads of igniting material. After being thus headed the pieces of taper travel around with the carrier-sections as the latter pass along ways I) b, so that the applied heads have opportunity to cool and harden before reaching the discharging device, which, as shown, consists of the bar P with its pins 19 p to enter the taper-holding openings formed of the grooves in the section-bars c c and push the contained butt-ends of the completed matches out therefrom. The flaring ends of these openings made by enlarging the ends of the half-round grooves in the bars (1" O facilitate the entry of the pins 19 p of the discharger and prevent any possibility of the tapers being inserted in place catching or :striking upon the lower edge of a bar O in such way as to hinder the passage of the taper ends. With the lower parts only of the corresponding grooves in plates G G made small enough to grasp the tapers and the upper parts larger, so as to simply inclose and guide without grasping the latter, the pieces of taper forming the match-blanks, which are cut off by the knife, will not be in danger of being pulled down and out from bet-ween the clam ping-carrier section-bars as the plates G G descend to take a new hold of the tapers farther down.

Obviously the machine can be readily adapted to operate upon any desired number of tapers simultaneously. It willas supplied with the tapers or lines of material from which the match-blanks are to be made and with the composition-applying device kept supplied with the required igniting material carry on the manufacture and discharging of completed matches continuously and entirely automatically. With a numberof tapers acted upon simultaneously, as in the machine shown and described, the matches can be turned out very rapidly, while the heads are by the travel of the endless carrier before the discharging device is reached given plenty of time to cool and harden.

Having thus described my invention, what .I claim is- 1. In an automatic power-driven machine for making wax matches, the combination with a main driving mechanism, of a progressively-movable carrier, operative connections between said mechanism and carrier, a reciprocating taper-feeding device arranged to thrust the taper toward, and operating automatically in respect to, the carrier, and having provisions for clamping the taper during the advance stroke of the device, and forholding straight and in line during its insertion in the carrier substantially all that portion of the taper which is next to be severed, means for releasing the taper-clamp during the retraction of said device, a cutter constructed and arranged to sever the taper when it has been introduced to the carrier, and means for operating the cutter at predetermined intervals, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic power-driven machine for making wax matches, the combination with a main driving mechanism, of a progressively-movable carrier, operative connections between said mechanism and carrier, a reciprocating taper-feeding device arranged to thrust the taper toward, and operating automatically in respect to, the carrier, and having provisions for clamping the taper during the advance stroke of the device and for holding straight and in line during its insertion in the carrier substantially all that portion of the taper which is next to be severed, means for releasing the taper-clamp during the retraction of said device, a knife reciprocative independently of the feeding device in a plane intersecting the taper, a support and guide for the knife, and means connected with and operated from the main driving mechanism for reciprocating the cutter at predetermined intervals, substantially as described.

3. In an automatic power-driven machine for making wax matches, the combination, with a main driving mechanism,of a progressively-movable carrier, operative connections between said mechanism and' carrier, a reciprocating taper-feeding device arranged to thrust the taper toward the carrier, said device including a section movable at right angles to the feeding movement so as to clamp or release the interposed taper, and having provision for holding straight. and in line duringits insertion in the carriersubstantially all that portion of the'taper which is next to be severed, means connected with and operated from the main driving mechanism for advanciug said device to the carrier while the latter is at rest and for retracting the device while the carrier is moving onward, and means for automatically effecting the clamping and the unclamping of the taper preparatory to the advancement and the retraction of the feeding device, respectively, together with a cutter constructed and arranged to sever the taper into match-lengths, and means for operating said cutter at predetermined intervals, substantially as described.

4. In an automatic power-driven machine for making wax matches, the combination, with a main driving mechanism,of a progressively-movable carrier, operative connections between said mechanism and carrier, a reciprocating taper clamping and feeding device, means for advancing said device to the carrier while the latter is at rest and for retracting the device while the carrier is movingonward,and means for effecting the clamping and the unclamping of the tapers preparatory to the advancement:- and the retraction of the feeding device, respectively,together with a supplementary clamping device to act upon the tapers during the retraction of the feeding device, acutter constructed and arranged to sever the tapers into match-lengths, and means for operating said cutter at predetermined intervals, substantially as described.

5. In an automatic power-driven machine for making wax matches, the combination, with a main driving mechanism,of a progressively-movable carrier, operative connections between said mechanism and carrier, a reciprocating taper-feeding device having a lower clamp and an upper guiding portion through which the tapers freely extend, means for operating and releasing the clamp at predetermined intervals, a knife orcutter, and means for operating it in a manner to sever the tapers when they have been introduced to the carrier, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for making wax matches, the combination, with a main driving mechanism, a progressively-movable carrier, operative connections between said mechanism and carrier, of a bodily-reciprocative clamp and feed device for lines of taper, said device comprising a portion in which the tapers are clamped, and a series of guides through which the tapers freely extend, andan independent cutter movable transversely of the tapers thus clamped, and means connected with and actuated from-the main driving mechanism for automatically operating the cutter, sub stantially as described.

7. In combination with the'carrier, consisting of a series of sections hinged together, each section being provided with means for holding match-blanks or the like, means for moving such carrier with a step-by-step motion to carry the carrier-sections past agiven point, which consists in two ratchet-toothed pieces moving together and connected with the carrier so as to move the same, the one having a series of ratchet-teeth, and the other a single tooth, in combination with two pawls, one for each ratchet-toothed piece, and means for actuating such pawls, arranged to move the pawl for the single-toothed ratchet-piece a greater distance than the other pawl travels, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. In combination with a carrier consisting of a series of connected sections, each containing a series of clamping-bars, a rotary shaft, connections between the same and the carrier whereby the latter is moved, the two ratchet-wheels on such shaft, one having only one tooth, and the other a series of teeth, a pawl to engage the teeth of the second wheel actuated to move the lattera distance to carry the carrier through a space equal to the width of one clamping-bar, and a pawl to engage the single tooth on the other wheel, actuated to move the same far enough to carry the carrier through a space equal to the width of two clam ping-bars, and the space between two adjoining carrier-sections, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. In combination with a series of connected carrier-sections,each havingaseries of clamping-bars, the teeth on such bars, the teeth on projecting portions of each end bar below the space between such bar and the first one of the next section, the rotary shaft, the pinions thereon to mesh with said teeth, the ratchetwheel on the shaft having a series of ratchetteeth, the second ratchet-wheel also fixed on the shaft, and having one tooth, separate pawls for the two ratchet-wheels, the pawlactuating levers, and means for moving such levers, adapted to give the lever connected with the pawl for the one-toothed wheel, a throw sufticient to turn the shaft a greater distance than the other pawl turns it, so as to move the carrier a distance equal to the width of two clamping-bars and the space between the two carrier-sections, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

10. In combination with asource of supply of the taper, or other material, in a continuous strip, the stationary clamp through which the strip is passed, one or more springs to hold from the stationary clamp, and separating it therefrom during its travel in the opposite direction, such guiding devices guiding the parts of the movable clamp in their feeding as well as in their clamping movement, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

11. The reciprocating feed-clamp, consisting of the two plates connected by the pins on one engaging holes in the other, the straight guideways guidin g one of the plates,guide-rollers on the sides of the other plate, a straight .guideway for such rollers, the two camways running at their opposite ends into such straight guideways, and the switches near the upper ends of the cam ways to shift the rollers on the plate over into the cam ways as they descend, substantially as and for the purpose described.

12. In a match-machine, the combination,

with a progressively-moving carrier, and its supporting and operating parts, of two opposing clamping and feeding plates connected to each other so as to reciprocate together to and from said carrier, but be capable of being separated and brought together again during reciprocation, a guiding device for one of the plates, guide-rollers at the sides of the other plate, a straight guideway for such rollers, and the two camways running at their upper and lower ends into the straight guideway, the switches at the points where the upper ends of the camways run into the straight guideway, and springs holding such switches normally swung across the straight guideway, substantially as and for the purpose specified. 13. In a match-machine, the combination, with a progressively-moving carrier, and its supporting and operating parts, of a reciprocating clamp and feed device, to clamp the lines of taper and feed them progressively to the carrier, said device being provided with a slot immediately above the clamping portion, a cutter reciprocative independently of the clamp and feed device, and means for forcing the cutter in through the slot to cut the clamped tapers, substantially as described.

14. In combination with means for holding and supplying a strip of material from which matches are to be made, and a suitable carrier to receive and hold portions cut off from such strip, a reciprocating clamp grooved to hold and guide the strip and adapted to surround the same up to a point close to its end, means for moving such clamp toward and from the carrier into which the strip is to be thrust, means for opening and closing the clamp as it moves away from and toward the carrier, respectively, and a cutter arranged to cut the strip at a point below the upper edge of the strip -surrounding part of the clamp, and means for actuating such cutter, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

15. The feeding-clamp for feeding a taper, consisting of the two separable plates, having correspondingtaper-receivinggroovesin their opposing faces, with their lower portions made small enough to grasp the taper when the plates are forced together, and their upper portions made larger to simply surround and guide the taper, in combination with a cutter to cut the taper above the smaller portions of the receiving-grooves of the clamp, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

16. The feeding-clamp for feeding lines of taper, which consists of the two separable plates having the series of corresponding taper-receiving grooves in their opposing faces, with their lower portions made small enough to grasp the tapers when the plates are forced together and their upper portions made larger, and a way for a cutting-blade to pass across the upper ends of the lower portions of the grooves, in combination with a cutter, and means for forcing the same through such way and retracting it, substantially as and for the purpose described.

17. In combination with aseries of rolls or other sources of supply of taper, a movable carrier, and its supporting and operating parts, said carrier having the transverse bars with a series of corresponding grooves in theirabuttiug faces, correspondingin number with the tapers to be operated upon, the reciprocating feed-clamp having its clampingplates provided with grooves on their opposing faces through which the taper passes, situated similarly to those in the carrier-bars, means for moving such clamp toward and from the carrier, and cutting mechanism operating in a fixed path independently of the clamp to act on the tapers at a point below the carrier, substantially as and for the purpose shown.

18. In combination with sources of supply of several lines of taper, the grooved stationary clamp, means for opening and closing said clamp, the correspondiugly-grooved reciprocating feed-clamp, means for opening and closing it as it moves toward and from the stationary clamp, respectively, a carrier moving progressively across the path of the feed-cla mp provided with a series of springpressed clamping-bars, with their opposing faces having taper-receiving grooves corresponding in number and position with those on the feed-clam p, sprin s to press such bars together, means for separating them to allow the passage of taper ends between them by the reciprocating feed-clamp, and then releasing them, and a cutter operating in a fixed path independently of the clamp to cut the tapers off below the carrier, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of May, 1893.

JOSEPH O. DONNELLY.

Witnesses:

FRANK H. MASSEY, MAURICE R. MASSEY. 

